Mike Clark is without a doubt one of the most influential and innovative drummers of funk history... The way he applied jazz concepts to funk was revolutionary and changed forever the perception of groove, breaks and improvisation.. Mike’s work continues to influence successive generations of drummers since his explosive arrival on the music scene with Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters. He is still to this day one the most sampled drummers of all times . Now Future Loops brings you all of Mike´s talent , genius and beats in a deluxe collection of hundreds of royalty-free loops ready to make your tracks burst with that unique funky feel only Mike can create .   Future Loops - You are one of the most sampled drummers of all time. But when you started recording you had little idea your grooves would end up in samplers of producers from all kinds of genres. Do you remember the first time you realised that sampling was here to stay / and the first tracks that used your drums? Mike Clark - When i recorded with the Headhunters and other funk type bands I had no idea that anyone would ever use thee grooves as samples/ Most musicians at that time were became aware of being sampled when Grandmaster Flash used my beat from God Make Me Funky and it was his first big hit and he used it in the movie and never paid us a dime so naturally I heard about it right away. FL - I’m sure that you also had your share of problems from unauthorized use of your samples … M.C - Yes we have been sampled thousands of times and received very little money for the samples even though we own the copyrights

and publishing so there needs to be new laws. Most hip hop songs have no chords or music other than maybe a note or two being held ona keyboard and drum and voice. Therefore the drums are a large part of the composition so we should be paid for out work the same as anybody wants to be paid for their work. We practiced many hours and actually know how to play, many people making rap or hop hop Cd's now aren't musicians and can't play a note, so since we have the know how, please pay us, or learn how to play an instrument. It's not rocket science it's called being honest.

FL - What are your favourite examples of tracks that use Mike Clark’s grooves in a innovative way.
M.C - My favorite groove of mine is the one I played on Herbie Hancock's tune Actual Proof on the CD Thrust.

FL - When Future Loops first approached you with the idea to do a funk drums sampling project, you were very enthusiastic about it and had tons of ideas to make this work. How did all these ideas came to live and what aspects of “Mike Clark’s Funk Drums“ do you consider the most useful to its users?
M.C - Because I can play and have the history of jazz, r&b and blues in my life I can create some new and real funky beats based on what has happened in funk history. So naturally many people will benefit from having my grooves as they are real and will sound great.Since I have played with most of the great blues and funk musicians I know how to bring the grooves and fills to to life. I enjoy hearing them on people's CD's so of course I am enthusiastic about doing this project.

FL - One of the cool things is that you also record hits that make it possible for the user to compose their own beats. As a drummer how do you look at drum-machine type beats versus real drums? Are you conservative in that sense or do you believe electronic beats can be equally powerful?
M.C - I like humans and therefore I like live drummers. Machines cannot play with any feel and are totally stiff. Not funky at all for my taste. I'm used to the real thing and have played with the real great people like Donald Harrison, Herbie Hancock, Bill Summers, Paul Jackson and Fred Wesley so a machine really doesn't move my soul. They just can't play the blues and without the blues there is no funk.. I do like some of the machine beats that are programmed but I would rather hear a real drummer playing them. Also a human being will come up with an innovation or hear something that is unique or possibly make a mistake that will turn into something beautiful.. The music I like is called...................LIVE!!!

FL - Would you say this is a purely funk title or does the overall “grooviness” of your playing make it ideal for any genre?
M.C - Grooviness for days but funky too!!

FL - What kits did you use to record “Mike Clark’s Funk Drums“..?
M.C - I used a DW Funk kit, a Luddwig 1960;s kit a DW kit with an 18 inch bass drum, a Yamaha kit, an old Gretsch Broadcaster kit, 6 different snares, a Tibetan tom tom 7 different cymbals, congas, and a pandero.

FL - You also included some mouth-watering percussion samples. In your opinion how important are percussion elements and can they really make or break a songs groove?
M.C -I don't know if percussion can make or break a tune, it depends on the tune the feel and tempo. It can be real nice to add as colors and can make a track lay great.  

FL - When the next hit song comes out with your drums all over it , will you be able to listen and say “ Hey , that’s me playing ! “ , or do you think it will be impossible to detect ?
M.C - Usually I will know instantly as it is one of my baby's but if they hide it in the track deep enough it can be hard to detect.